{{ propApi.searchIcon }}
{{ propApi.closeIcon }}
Our industry
Our industry $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Housing industry insights Economics Insights Data & forecasts Tailored research & analysis Advocacy & policy Advocacy Policy priorities Position statements Submissions News & inspiration Industry news Member alerts Media releases HOUSING Online
Business support
Business support $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
For your business Contracts Online Safety systems & solutions HIA SafeScan Member perks Toyota vehicles The Good Guys Commercial Ampol fuel savings See all Industry insurance HIA Insurance Services Construction works insurance Home warranty insurance Tradies & tool insurance Apprentices Why host a HIA apprentice? Hire an apprentice Value for money Support & guidance Contracts & compliance support Building & planning services Australian Standards
Resources & advice
Resources & advice $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Building it right Building codes National Construction Code Australian standards Getting it right on site See all Building materials & products Concrete, bricks & walls Getting products approved Use the right products for the job See all Managing your business Dealing with contracts Handling disputes Managing your employees See all Managing your safety Safety rules Working with silica See all Building your business Growing your business Communication for your business See all Other subjects Getting approval to build Sustainable homes See all
Careers & learning
Careers & learning $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
A rewarding career Become an apprentice Apprenticeships on offer How do I apply? Frequently asked questions Study with us Find a course to suit you Qualification courses Learning on demand Professional development courses A job in the industry Get your builder's licence Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Further your career
HIA community
HIA community $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Grow with us Sign me up Become a member Member benefits Mates rates Our podcasts Made To Build Built Different HIA Building Australia Building the Hunter Our initiatives HIA Building Women Charitable Foundation GreenSmart Kitchen, bathroom & design hub Get involved Become an award judge Join a committee Meet our members Partner with us
Awards & events
Awards & events $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Awards Awards program People & Business Awards GreenSmart Australian Housing Awards Awards winners Regional Award winners Australian Housing Award winners 2026 Australian Home of the Year Industry events Events in the next month Economic outlook National Conference Events calendar
HIA shop
HIA shop $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Most popular products National Construction Code Vol 1 & 2 Waterproofing wet areas AS 3740:2021 HIA Guide to Waterproofing HIA Guide to NCC Livable Housing Provisions Top categories Building codes & standards Contracts & documents Guides & manuals Safety products Signage For your business Contracts Online Digital Australian Standards Digital Resource Library Forecasts & data
About Contact Newsroom
$vuetify.icons.faTimes
$vuetify.icons.faMapMarker Set my location Use the field below to update your location
Address
Change location
{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location
{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change location

$vuetify.icons.faPhone1300 650 620

Support for tradies to take on apprentice critical to delivering more homes for Australia

Media release

Support for tradies to take on apprentice critical to delivering more homes for Australia

Media release
“Tonight’s Budget-reply by the Coalition included a key measure to provide $12,000 of financial support for small businesses and tradies to take on an apprentice and support them through their trade” stated HIA Managing Director, Jocelyn Martin.

“Without an employer, there is no apprentice and financial support for employers is critical to addressing our nation’s chronic skills shortages. 

“The Housing Industry Association (HIA) analysis shows that we are facing unprecedented level of skills shortage in excess of 83,000 more tradies needed right now to build the homes Australia desperately needs.

“We can’t just keep on with current policies and hope that it will solve itself, we need a circuit breaker to address what are long term structural issues in our skills shortages.

“Financial incentives for apprentices to take on a trade are essential, but unless we support the people that employ them, mentor them and guide these young workers through their trades and help them overcome the high dropout rates of apprentices the numbers will continue to decline.

“The financial support outlined by the Coalition for employers to take on an apprentice has the potential to support hundreds of thousands, small businesses in our sector to take on an apprentice and support them through their trade to completion. 

“Too often in the past, we have seen apprentice and employer incentives come and go and where there is no certainty businesses can’t plan or commit with any level confidence or certainty.

“HIA welcomes the Coalition’s commitment tonight for small businesses and calls on all parties to match this. 

“Small businesses need certainty and consistency and what we want to see is this type of support for apprentices and employers locked in as permanent fixture, which recognises the critical role employers play in investing in our future skills now and going forward” concluded Ms Martin.

For more information please contact:

Jocelyn Martin

Managing Director

Simon Croft

Chief Executive - Industry & Policy
Latest articles
View all news $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
14 Jul
Update on recent HIA advocacy activities

Over the past few weeks HIA has been advocating strongly on behalf of members on a range of policy and regulatory issues that have significant implications for housing supply, business confidence and the capacity of our industry to deliver the homes Australia needs.

14 Jul
Tasmanian builders shouldn't be shut out of housing work over union membership

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has today written to the Tasmanian Government calling for a commitment that state-funded and state-partnered housing work will continue to be awarded on merit, not industrial arrangements, warning new federal procurement rules could shrink the pool of builders able to deliver the homes Tasmania needs.

13 Jul
Rushing Working from Home laws will only lead to more bungling

The Victorian Government continues to push ahead with its Working from Home laws despite the Housing Industry Association’s (HIA) call for it to abandon its proposed legislation, warning the changes would impose additional regulatory pressure on businesses already struggling and kill productivity.

13 Jul
Hobart named Australia's most restrictive city for planning

Hobart has been identified as the most restrictive capital city in Australia for planning, according to the Australian Zoning Atlas, which found 97 per cent of the city's residential land is subject to restrictions that limit new housing.